Cam operated adjustable micro timing switch



June 22, 1965 L. A. KINGSLEY CAM OPERATED ADJUSTABLE MICRO TIMING SWITCH Filed Sept. 11. 1961 OPERATES ON TWO THOUSANDTH OF AN INCH MOVEMENT INVENTOR. LEWIS A. KINGSLEY ou rfibk ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,190,130 CAM OPERATED ADJUSTABLE MICRO TIMING SWITCH Lewis A. Kingsley, Beverly Hills, Calif. Kingsley Machine Co., 850 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, Calif.) Filed Sept. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 137,318 8 Claims. (Cl. 74-3.54)

This invention relates to animproved mechanism for accurate variable adjustment of the actuation of a switch or valve in mechanical co-ordination with the operation of a machine.

In many machines the operation of one element must be coordinated with the operation of anotherelement,

and further, often that coordination must be varied as to the relative timing of the operations as well as relative duration of those operations. It is also essential in some machines that this coordination be readily and accurately variable by the operator in response to changing conditions 'or requirements.

In the marking of wire, tubing and the like by a 'hot i stamping machine such as described and illustrated in Patent No. 2,960,024 issued November 15, 1960, to me, and in my co-pending application Serial No. 756,814,

filed August 25, 1958 (now Patent No. 2,996,000), and

.To obtain the ideal duration of contact, it may be advisable to be able to vary that'time period while the machine is in operation, thereby enabling a high standard of quality control of the marking and a minimumtof imperfections.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a switch which may be coordinated with the movements of a machine and variable in its operation relative to that machine.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a switch orvalve which is actuatedby a cam on a machine and may be accurately adjusted.

It is a further and more detailed object of this invention to provide a switch for use on a hot marking machine to vary the duration of contact between the hot stamp and the workpiece which may be accurately adjusted and coordinated with the machine.

c Other and more detailedobjects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the switch assembly constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation of the switch assembly taken substantially on the line 2 -2 of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the microswitch and actuating cam taken substantially on line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of FIG. 3. a

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a modification.

Referring to the drawings, the housing, generally designated 10, is comprised of a frame 11 which has side straps 12'and 13 secured to each side by any convenient means such as cap screws 14.

A shaft 15 is supported in bearing apertures 16 and 17, and is free to rotate relative to the frame 11. A worm "Ice 7 gear 18 is fixed to theshaft 15 in a position intermediate of the apertures 16 and 17 by set screw 19. In order to adjust the shaft 15 in an axial direction, as desired, an adjustment screw 20 having a conical point 21 onone end engages a conical depression 22 in one end of the shaft. The frame 11 is threaded at 23 for receiving the threaded portion of screw 20 and a lock nut 24 threaded onto screw 20 is provided for locking the screw in position after desired axial adjustment has been made.

Contact between the conical point 21 and conical depression '22 is maintained by a dish-shaped spring washer 25 received on the shaft-15 and compressed between an inner surface 26 of the frame 11 and the end 27 of the worm gear 18 by adjustment of screw 20. For manual turning of the shaft 15, a handle 28 is secured to the free end by set screw 29. To permit visual settings or adjustments of the switch, a dial 30 is mounted on the frame, coaxial withshaft 15, by cap screw 31. A pin 32 on the dial face limits turning of the handle 28 by engaging the pointer end 33 of the handle. A second shaft, 34 is mounted-in the housing 10 and is to rotate insupport bushing 35 pressed into an opening 36 "on the sidestrap 13 and a support assembly, generally designated 37, mounted in threaded opening 38 in side strap 12. The support assembly'37 has a bushing 39 carrying the shaft 34 and is mounted in a threaded sleeve 40. The sleeve 40 is threaded into opening 38, and after proper adjustment, is locked in the desired position by lock nut 41.

In order to provide mechanical connection between shaft -15 and shaft 34, a worm wheel assembly, generally designated/l2, engages the worm 18. The assembly 42 is comprised-oftwo adjacent flanges 43 and 44, each with teeth 45 of the appropriate configuration for engagement with the worm gear. The flange 44 is secured to shaft 34 by any convenient means such as pin 46, and the flange 43 is movable relative to shaft 34. Each flange has a pair of openings 47 and 48 with a finger 49 protruding laterally into each such opening. In order to urge opposite relative turning of the flanges, coil springs 50 and 51 are positioned in the openings formed by the adjacent openings of'the two flanges/l3 and 44 and each spring has one end installed over the finger 49 of one flange and the other end installed over the finger 49 of the other flange.

In assembling the worm wheel assembly 42, the flange 43 is turned relative to the flange 44 and shaft 34so as to compress the springs 50 and 51 and the teeth 45 are moved into engagement with the worm gear 18. As thus assembled, the springs urge the teeth of one flange into engagement with one side of the teeth on the worm gear and urge the teeth of the other flange 'into'engagement with the other side of the teeth on the worm gear.

The alignment of the worm wheel assembly 42 with the axis of the shaft 15 is maintained by the shoulder 52 of bushing 39 engaging the sleeve 40 to limit axial movement in one direction. A leaf-type spring 53 secured to strap 13 by an convenient means such as rivet 54 has a free end 55 slidably engaging one end 56 of flange 44 and urging that flange axially against flange43 and thereby urging flange 43 against the surface 57 of bushing 39.

To facilitate mounting of conventional switch, a block 58 is secured to shaft 34 by set screws 59. Any conventional switch such as micro-switch 60 is mounted on block '58 by'means of cap screws 61 and is provided with a plunger 62 which makes or breaks an electrical circuit upon axial movement of the plunger. I prefer to use a micro-switch which accomplishes this making and breaking with the minimum amount of required axial movement such as 0.002 of an inch, and the plunger 62 being capable of further movement without affecting the circuit.

The plunger 62 is provided with a cam follower 63 for moved progressively toward the cam shaft 65, the switch is actuated for progressively longer period of timefor a given speed of rotationof shaft 65;

Movem ent'of the plunger 62 and cam follower 63 7 toward and away from the cam shaft 65 is accomplished by'turning the handle 28 clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively, as more or less of a time period in which the switch remains closed or open is desired. The plurality of biasing means 25,50, 51 and 53 promote immediate responsive movement of the switch 60 upon the slightest I movement of the handle '28. t

Groves 66 and 67 are provided in either side of the frame 11 for accommodating conventional clamping means (not shown) 'to fix the frame 11 to a frame mem ber 68 of the machine carrying the shaft 65.

The switch60 may-be used to energize a solenoid or it circuit whereby the required operation is accomplished,

such as a'solenoid operated air valve and the associated elements-as described in my co-pending application Serial No. 756,814, filed August 25, 1958, and entitled Air-Operated Wire andTube MarkingMachi nex 1 a t In the modification illustrated in FIGURE 6 an air valv 69:: having an actuating plunger 62;: andfa cam follower 7, 63a on'the end of the plunger is mounted on the block 58 rather than thelmicro-switch 60 of my preferred embodi ment. The air valve 60a'is actuated-by the-cam 64 'subl1 stantialiy .thesame' as the micro-switch 60 is actuated as described above. The air permitted to pass through the valve 69a when actuated by -the cam maybe used to perform the desired operationin an air operatedmae chine or to actuate valves to perform these operations.

While what hereinbefore has been described, asthe preferred embodiment of this invention, it is readily apparsecured to the said'second shaftand the other flange being rotatably mounted on said second shaftQbiasingineanS extending between s'aidlfianges forurging opposed tum ing whereby both the leading and trailing sides of the ent' that alterations and modifications may be resorted to 7 without departing from the scope .of this invention and cluded within the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim: V (A 1. .Inan adjustablewcontrol unit operably'responsive to a cam or other actuating means, the combination of? a turnable shaft, a switch means eccentricallylmounted on said shaft, said switch means having means for engaging said cam or actuating means, a second shaft, and means connecting saidfirst and secondshafts;

such alterations and modifications are intended to be in: 5

2. In an adjustable controlunit' operably responsive to a cam orothe'r actuating means, the combinationofg a turnable shaft, a switch means eccentrically mounted on said shaft, said switch means having means 'for'engagmg said cam oractuating means, a second shaft, and means mechanically connecting said second shaft to said first shaft whereby movement of said second shaft causes turning of said first shaft. a

3. In an'adjusta'ble control unit operably responsive to a cam or other actuating means, the combination of; a a housing having two shafts rotatably mounted therein, W

gear means mechanically connecting said shafts whereby turning of the first shaft results in turning of the second shaft, switch 'rneans fixedly and eccentrically mounted to the said second shaft, and said switch means having an elementfor engaging the said associated cam or actuating means.

4. In an adjustable control unit operably responsive to a cam or other actuating means, the combination- 0f: a

housing having two shafts rotatably mounted therein, the

first said shaft having worm gear fixedly mounted thereson, the secondsaid shaft having a worm wheel gear fixedly mounted thereon, the said shafts positioned for interengagement of the said worm and wworr'n wheelgears, a switch means fixedly and eccentrically mounted on the said second shaft, and said switch meanshaving an element for engaging the said associated cam or actuating means, whereby turning of the said second shaft moves the said' element toward or away from the said c'amior' actuating means. a

5. In an adjustablecontrol unit operably responsive to a camror, other actuating means,'the combination of: a

housing'ha'ving two shafts rotatably mounted therein, the,

first said shafthaving a worm gear fixedly mounted thereon, the second said shaft having a worm wheel gear fixedly mounted thereon, thetsaid shafts positioned 'for'interem.

gagement of the said worm and vworm wheel, a switch means having a cam-engaging means for actuating the switch means, the said switch means being eccentrically mounted on'the said second shaft whereby turning of the said second shaft moves the said cam-engagingmeans toward or away from the'said associated cam or actuating means for actuating the switch means 7 1 6. lnian adjustable control unit operably responsive to a cam or other actuating means, the combination of: a 7 housing having. two shaftsirotatably mounted therein, the.

on, the second said shaft having-a worm wheel gear fixedly mounted tl'iereon, the said shaftspositioned for interen-i gagement *ofthe said wo'rm and worm wheelgthe'said worm wheel g'ear-having'two adjacent flanges with'sub-'- stantially similar gear teeth, one of saidfla nges being worm gear teeth arefien'gaged by the worm wheel,-and a switch means having a cam-engaging means for actuating the switch means, the said switch means being eccentrically mounted onthe said second shaft whereby turning of the I said second shaft moves the said cam-engaging means means for actuating the switch means,

toward or away from the said associated cam 'or'actuating 7; In an adjustable control unit ,operably responsive to a lcam or other actuating means, the combination of: a

housing having two shafts rotatably mounted therein; the first said shaft'having a worm gearfixedly mountedthereon, the second said shaft having a worm wheel gear fixedly mounted thereon, the said' shafts positioned for interengagement of the Worm and worth wheel, the said worm wheel gear having two adjacent flanges with substantiallyfsimilar gear teeth, one of' said flanges being secured to the said second shaft and the other flange being rotatably mounted Tonsaid second shaft, a pair of openings ineach flange,a coil spring in each opening extending between one flange and the other flange for urging opposed turning whereby the leading sides of the worm gear teeth are engaged by one flange and the trailing 'sides of the gear teeth are engaged by'the other flange of the worm wheel,

a switch means having a cam-engaging means for actuating the, switch means, and the said switchmeans being eccentricallymounted on thesaid second shaft whereby turning of the said second shaft moves the said cam-engaging means toward or tawayfrom the said associated cam or actuating meansfor actuating the switch, means;

, 6. The combination of claim '7 wherein thecoil springs extending between the two flanges of the'wo rm wheel are in compression. r 7

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES "PATENTS 1,737,165 11/29) Loren; 7 45 68 I 2,290,044- 7/42 Haag 74 3.s2 X

2,375,914 5/45 McMillan '74 3.s4

BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner.

first said shaft hav ng a worm gearfixedly mounted'there 

1. IN AN ADJUSTABLE CONTROL UNIT OPERABLY RESPONSIVE TO A CAM OR OTHER ACTUATING MEANS, THE COMBINATION OF: A TURNABLE SHAFT, A SWITCH MEANS ECCENTRICALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT, SAID SWITCH MEANS HAVING MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID CAM OR ACTUATING MEANS, A SECOND SHAFT, AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND SHAFTS. 